The lions that inspired the live action remake of “The Lion King” are retiring, Walt Disney World announced a refurbishment schedule for several resort hotels, and a packaging snafu led to the sale of Wicked dolls with a QR code that directed to adult content — all this and more in today’s daily recap for Monday, November 11, 2024.

Walt Disney World

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

• “Wicked” star Ariana Grande is begging Disney to not change The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
• Kermit, Miss Piggy, Mickey, and Minnie are all back for “Disney Holidays in Hollywood,” a stage show at Disney Jollywood Nights in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
• The holidays are here at Walt Disney World, and we visited Disney’s Hollywood Studios to try all the Christmas food and drinks for the 2024 season.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

• The two African lions that have called Disney’s Animal Kingdom home for several years will soon retire. 

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

• Walt Disney World has announced months-long refurbishments for Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside, and Disney’s Pop Century Resort.

New Merchandise

• New Merry Menagerie merchandise has arrived at Disney’s Animal Kingdom before the show returns to Discovery Island on November 12.
• A talking Madame Leota figurine first released at D23: The Ultimate Disney Fan Event is now available at Walt Disney World.

Disneyland Resort

• Tiana’s Palace at Disneyland Park will get a new Raymond Firefly Straw Clip and special food items on November 15 in honor of the opening of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
• Another round of Christmas merchandise has arrived at the Emporium in Disneyland. 
• Disneyland Resort is celebrating the release of “Moana 2” this month with a new Heihei straw clip and other menu items. 
• A new Fantasmic! Dining Package is coming to Café Orleans at Disneyland Park on January 10, 2025, featuring a 3-course dining experience.
• Guests driving on the streets of Anaheim this weekend got treated to their own version of the Paint the Night Parade as the floats returned to Disneyland Resort.

Tokyo Disney Resort

• Tokyo Disney Resort has announced that performances of “Big Band Beat: A Special Treat” will end in 2025.

Disney Cruise Line

• During its transatlantic voyage to its new home of Port Canaveral, the Disney Treasure made a detour to save four stranded boaters.

Universal Studios

• Mattel accidentally printed the URL of a porn site on the packaging for their “Wicked” dolls.

Universal Orlando Resort

• Universal Orlando Resort revealed that the holiday UOAP magnet will feature Gingy, the gingerbread man from the “Shrek” series.

Universal Studios Japan

• A new opening date has been announced for Donkey Kong Country, an expansion of Super Nintendo World, at Universal Studios Japan.
• In a special Nintendo Direct live stream, Shigeru Miyamoto took viewers on a tour inside Donkey Kong Country at Universal Studios Japan for the first real look at the new Super Nintendo World expansion.
• With the announcement of the opening date for Donkey Kong Country, an expansion of Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Japan, the resort has announced two special offers.

WDW News Today

New Details for Villains Land & Cars Land at Magic Kingdom, Christmas Begins at Disney World

That’s it for today; we hope you enjoyed this Daily Recap. Thanks for stopping by, and we’ll see you tomorrow!

Katie Francis